25th November is #WhiteRibbonDay and also marks the beginning of the “16 Days of action against gender-based violence”. So we thought this was a good time to blog about healthy and unhealthy relationships, and where you can get help if you’re suffering any form of relationship abuse.

What is a healthy relationship?

As a young person it can be difficult to know whether a relationship you are in is healthy or not. Healthy relationships are all about respecting each other. You should feel loved, safe and free to be yourself.

Unhealthy or abusive relationships

Relationships can be very confusing and it can be difficult to understand what is and isn’t normal or acceptable behaviour.

The “DISRESPECT NOBODY” campaign has the following advice to help you know whether the way your boyfriend or girlfriend is being abusive or disrespectful:

“Disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour can come in many forms. It isn’t limited to just physical behaviour; it can also go way beyond that. For example, it’s not OK for someone to try and pressure you into sending a nude pic, or to expect the same things to happen that they’ve seen in a porn film. If someone makes you do something you don’t want to, makes you feel scared, intimidated or tries controlling you, it’s not acceptable and is never OK”.

Some people think that relationship abuse is just about violence, or physically forcing somebody to do something they don’t want to. However, abuse comes in many forms and can be emotional, verbal, or financial too. All relationship abuse is serious and is never OK.

For help “spotting the signs” of relationship abuse, or to find out more about support available if you are in an abusive relationship please visit the “Disrespect NoBody” website.

If you are comfortable talking about these things with your Connexions Personal Adviser then they will also be happy to make sure you are put in contact with people or organisations that can give you the support and advice you need.

If you are 19 or younger and are concerned about your relationship please call Childline on 0800 1111 (Freephone)

If you’re male and would take the White Ribbon Day pledge “never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women” you can do so at www.whiteribbon.org.uk/pledge

If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger ALWAYS call 999.

Writing a Personal Statement – (7th November 2018)

You’re sat staring at a blank screen. You know you’re brilliant and definitely deserve a place at your chosen university. In fact, they’ll be lucky to have you, right?

So why is it so difficult to convey this message in 4,000 characters? At over 28 times the length of a Tweet, shouldn’t it be easy?

The point of a personal statement is to tell the university about you and what interests you about the course. Notice the use of the word ‘you’? This isn’t something you can do with a mate, copy from a book or ask your mum to write. Obviously you can ask for advice from people around you, but ultimately, you’ve just got to get on and get it done.

The following tips should help:

Take your time. A rushed statement will be obvious and could contain mistakes and lack clarity

Be enthusiastic. It’s time to sell yourself, so although you don’t want to come across as a know-it-all, this is no time for wallflowers

Of course, you can also always give us a shout at Connexions Bradford if you need any support – 01274 377800.

And just before you go, it would be great if you could just take a minute to answer a couple of questions here: https://bit.ly/2OvHi0n

Want to get into teaching? – (5th October 2018)

With today being World Teachers Day we thought it’d be a good time to fire out a quick guide for anyone who fancies becoming a teacher themselves. Here are a few things to think about.

Remember your favourite teacher?

Have a think about your favourite teachers and what makes them stand out. What do you think makes a “good” teacher?

Can they make a subject come alive, even during the last period of a long day?

Is it because you know they want to help you improve?

Do they have a way of communicating complex subjects or theories?

Getting things in order.

As a teacher you’ll have a lot on your plate. Those brilliant lessons you’ll be delivering will need to be planned ahead, then there’s that assembly you’ve just been asked to do tomorrow. And what about that homework that needs marking?

Things could get tense...

Most of us can remember awkward standoffs between a teacher and a student. How would you manage someone with challenging behaviour? Would you stay calm and be patient? No matter how good you are at planning it’s impossible to predict how your students will be all the time.

...but things can also be really rewarding.

Seeing students improve and thrive can be really rewarding, especially if some of that’s down to an amazing lesson you delivered or the passion you showed over a certain subject. Becoming a teacher is a great way to make a real difference to people’s lives.

Want to know more?

You can come and speak to us at the Bradford Connexions Centre, get in touch on Facebook or Twitter or give us a ring on 01274 377800 to make an appointment for careers guidance.

Ever thought of being a Social Media Manager? (29th June 2018)

There’s a strong chance that you’ve landed on this blog through one of our Connexions Bradford social media platforms. You might follow us on Twitter, be friends with us on Facebook or a visitor to our website.

(And if you’re not, you should be, so do all of that follow and share stuff after you’ve read this.)

Social Media isn’t just about posting photos of your tea on Insta, Tweeting about the World Cup or watching cat videos on YouTube anymore. These days, people do it as a job.

Most businesses and organisations have a Social Media Manager whose job is to engage with customers and communities over social media platforms.

That might mean responding to customers on Twitter or Facebook, creating snappy website content and coming up with imaginative marketing campaigns.

What skills does a Social Media Manager need?

Enjoy writing?

You’ll need to come up with punchy headlines and be able to write in a style that catches the audience’s attention.

Happy working beyond the world of 9-5?

Social media never switches off. You won’t be working 24/7 but it’s really important to stay in the loop of what’s going on in the world.

Organised and on the ball?

You might be juggling multiple accounts and working to tight deadlines, so being organised is really important.

You can find us on Twitter and Facebook, chat to us through our Connexions Bradford website or call 01274 377800 for an appointment if you want to talk to someone about your future plans.

Top 5 Revision Hacks(3rd May 2018)
No matter how many times people say "you'll be fine", that list of exam dates can still look pretty daunting.

But even though you may never love exams (who does?) this doesn't have to be a time for stress and anxiety.

Try our revision tips to see you through.

Get organised

There's no such thing as being fashionably late to an exam. Take a photo of your exam timetable and make sure you know where you need to be, on which day and at what time.

Get going

Would you suggest that a marathon runner does 26 miles the night before a big race? Nope. Chances are that cramming the night before an exam will leave you feeling just as exhausted, so start revising in good time. Which leads us on to...

Get some kip

Your brain works better after a full night's sleep, so go to bed at a decent time and those important revision notes will come flooding back when you need them.

Get some help

Believe it or not, mates can be useful. If you're struggling to get your head around a subject, or to remember certain facts and figures, try explaining it to a friend or get them to test you. Speaking out loud can help to make things clear.

Get outside

Even if it's raining. A quick walk around the block (or to your mate's for the tip above) can be just enough to reboot the system and get your brain back in gear.

Over to you. Get cracking and good luck!

*It's worth saying, sometimes things don't go to plan. If you want a chat with a Connexions Careers Adviser you can give us a ring on 01274 377800 or message us on Facebook.